Turkey Talk for 2014

[duluthralphie]

Turkeys are giving me fits the last little bit. My tom appears to be on the mend, but my hen has decided, after months of peaceful coexhistence on free range, that she needs to eliminate my pullets.

She killed one, but until this morning I thought it was a hawk attack. Then I saw her relentlessly pecking at the head of another pullet, that she had knocked off her feet, this morning. I broke it up and it looks like my pullet will survive.

The question is what should I do to protect my chickens? As of now I plan on catching that hen and putting her in isolation for a bit. Is there anything else shy of freezer camp that I can do. If I add another hen will that help or exacerbate the problem? I open to suggestions. I really don't want to get rid of my hen, if I need to I will.

She has not shown any aggresion toward people, only the chickens.

I found this post most interesting. My older Turkey hen will peck at the chickens too, but the chickens run off and she is dominate over them. She roosts in the coop with the chickens, the only turkey that does roost inside.

I have wondered if she would or could ever get too rough on the chickens. Mainly, I was thinking , with the roosters. I have seen her pick at them and I worry if they decide to try and stay dominate if one could get hurt.

I know turkeys and chickens are not suppose to be raised together, but mine refuse to separate. I moved my chickens 200 yards from where the turkeys were housed and the turkeys picked up and moved to the chickens.

BTW I have guineas in the same coop too, and I find the turkeys keep the guineas from becoming overly aggressive.

Thanks for the post, I sure have no advice for you but am glad you told us your problem.

 

[chickadoodles]

Turkeys are giving me fits the last little bit. My tom appears to be on the mend, but my hen has decided, after months of peaceful coexhistence on free range, that she needs to eliminate my pullets.

She killed one, but until this morning I thought it was a hawk attack. Then I saw her relentlessly pecking at the head of another pullet, that she had knocked off her feet, this morning. I broke it up and it looks like my pullet will survive.

The question is what should I do to protect my chickens? As of now I plan on catching that hen and putting her in isolation for a bit. Is there anything else shy of freezer camp that I can do. If I add another hen will that help or exacerbate the problem? I open to suggestions. I really don't want to get rid of my hen, if I need to I will.

She has not shown any aggresion toward people, only the chickens.

I think it is just instinct kicking in. When breeding season is coming on I think your hen and tom should have a private place to make a family where she feels her poults will be safe. I think she may view the others as a threat to her young. I have had my turkey and chickens together but when breeding season comes on I had to separate mine.

 

[SilkieSensation]

My chickens & turkeys stayed together all through breeding season. I had chicken hens & turkey hens both trying to brood in the same nest & still no problems.

 

[gevshiba]

Turkeys are giving me fits the last little bit. My tom appears to be on the mend, but my hen has decided, after months of peaceful coexhistence on free range, that she needs to eliminate my pullets.

She killed one, but until this morning I thought it was a hawk attack. Then I saw her relentlessly pecking at the head of another pullet, that she had knocked off her feet, this morning. I broke it up and it looks like my pullet will survive.

The question is what should I do to protect my chickens? As of now I plan on catching that hen and putting her in isolation for a bit. Is there anything else shy of freezer camp that I can do. If I add another hen will that help or exacerbate the problem? I open to suggestions. I really don't want to get rid of my hen, if I need to I will.

She has not shown any aggresion toward people, only the chickens.

I'm having problems with turkeys and chickens, also. 5 toms have gone to the freezer. Another 3-4 will be following shortly. They are beating up my roosters, who are egging them on. Well, one is. The chicken chicken is hiding in a nest box. I know I have too many for the space. I had to make a covered run when the bobcats discovered easy meals, so they have less room. Unfortunately, my turkeys are ranged in age from 9 moths to 6 months. I put the oldest toms in the freezer. The younger ones are still too small. I want to keep the older hens, but the young hens aren't ready to butcher. They are going on an as needed basis. You pick on the chickens, you go in the freezer. Eventually, I'll get to one tom and 4 hens. One 2 year old hen has to go, though. She's my only adult left and she's killed a couple younger turkeys. She's really mean.

Guess what's for dinner tonight?

 

[birdman55]

gobble gobble gobble gobbled him up for thanksgiving








lol

 

[chickadoodles]

lol birdman

 

[birdman55]

lol...I try and make humor....better to laugh then to frown...hahahaha
morning everyone...just got the net done and cut now im installing it on the second coop..then will be moving the birds in...and then third and then fourth....grrr only ten pens left to do

 

[chickadoodles]

lol...I try and make humor....better to laugh then to frown...hahahaha
morning everyone...just got the net done and cut now im installing it on the second coop..then will be moving the birds in...and then third and then fourth....grrr only ten pens left to do

Humor helps a bunch. hehehhe
Good morning, sounds like your making good progress.

We are thinking of a fenced area with bird netting over it for the birds to forage in. Maybe this spring.

 

[B J Hopkins]

Had a pleasant surprise when I collected eggs today. Found a turkey egg in the turkey yard. Don't know if there will be more in the coming days or not. I did see my youngest hen sit for the gobbler a few days ago

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Had a pleasant surprise when I collected eggs today. Found a turkey egg in the turkey yard. Don't know if there will be more in the coming days or not. I did see my youngest hen sit for the gobbler a few days ago

That IS a nice surprise!